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Doctors want Gov to control whiplash claims
Parking_Trouble
Posts: 761 Forumite
Interesting read of response from 100 doctors taking part in online questionnaire
http://newsroom.axa.co.uk/media-releases/2012/almost-nine-in-ten-doctors-believe-that-government-should-introduce-new-measures-to-control-whiplash-claims/
"AXA, one of the UK’s leading car insurers, has carried out research among UK doctors as part of its ongoing campaign to understand the culture of Personal Injury (PI) claims in the UK and reduce the payouts that have driven substantial rises in car insurance premiums.
The research revealed that doctors were under pressure to be part of the £2bn PI payout** not just through increasing numbers of whiplash patients taking up surgery time but with 7% actually being offered money to refer patients with whiplash injuries.
Over the last month, AXA polled doctors across the UK and an overwhelming 88% of those surveyed said they felt government should introduce new measures to control whiplash claims for motorists.
22% said they had seen a substantial increase in whiplash patients
over the last five years while a further 40% had seen a moderate increase in this period. Over the last year alone 11% had seen substantial increases and 31% moderate increases.
Doctors surveyed believe that on average, 37% of patients who come to them with whiplash as a result of a car accident are fraudulent, while a third of doctors believe this number to be over 50%.
Over half (58%) of the doctors involved in the AXA study signed off fifty per cent or less of patients as having a genuine whiplash injury.
One of the biggest problems faced by doctors is the accuracy of whiplash diagnosis - only 7% believe it is very easy to accurately diagnose.
To improve this situation, 78% agree that there should be a more rigorous approach to assessing injuries, while access to more detailed guidelines around whiplash type injuries was desired by 71% of doctors surveyed. Better tests (47%), access to specialist clinics (38%) and expert opinion (39%) were also cited as popular improvements that could be made.
Three in five doctors spent less than ten minutes assessing a whiplash injury and only 5% agree strongly with the statement that they have enough time to deal with these patients effectively.
Overall doctors have a very negative view of the increase in patients pursuing financial compensation for whiplash injuries.
Only 4% believe that it is a positive thing that the UK is now much more equipped to compensate people injured in an accident while 45% believe it has a negative effect on society. However, they were broadly unaware of the actual financial cost to the UK with 77% underestimating the £2bn price tag.
Over the last year, AXA has led the way in the insurance industry by being the first insurer to drop referral fees for PI claims and leading a campaign which contributed to the government banning these fees across the industry.
Earlier this year, the company also carried out a study with Thatcham, the leading motor research organisation, into cars on UK's roads and estimated only 34% have head restraints and seats that would be categorised as "good" when it comes to reducing the risk of the driver being the victim of whiplash injuries.
Sarah Vaughan, motor director at AXA insurance said: "We are determined to put a stop to the totally unnecessary levels of compensation payments being made for whiplash in the UK.
"We have already made a first step towards doing this through campaigning for and securing the banning of referral fees. But we believe that compensation is still far too easy to come by.
"Our study clearly shows that the medical profession is under real pressure in this area and crying out for more guidance and support to help them deal with a rapidly growing number of whiplash patients.""
http://newsroom.axa.co.uk/media-releases/2012/almost-nine-in-ten-doctors-believe-that-government-should-introduce-new-measures-to-control-whiplash-claims/
"AXA, one of the UK’s leading car insurers, has carried out research among UK doctors as part of its ongoing campaign to understand the culture of Personal Injury (PI) claims in the UK and reduce the payouts that have driven substantial rises in car insurance premiums.
The research revealed that doctors were under pressure to be part of the £2bn PI payout** not just through increasing numbers of whiplash patients taking up surgery time but with 7% actually being offered money to refer patients with whiplash injuries.
Over the last month, AXA polled doctors across the UK and an overwhelming 88% of those surveyed said they felt government should introduce new measures to control whiplash claims for motorists.
22% said they had seen a substantial increase in whiplash patients
over the last five years while a further 40% had seen a moderate increase in this period. Over the last year alone 11% had seen substantial increases and 31% moderate increases.
Doctors surveyed believe that on average, 37% of patients who come to them with whiplash as a result of a car accident are fraudulent, while a third of doctors believe this number to be over 50%.
Over half (58%) of the doctors involved in the AXA study signed off fifty per cent or less of patients as having a genuine whiplash injury.
One of the biggest problems faced by doctors is the accuracy of whiplash diagnosis - only 7% believe it is very easy to accurately diagnose.
To improve this situation, 78% agree that there should be a more rigorous approach to assessing injuries, while access to more detailed guidelines around whiplash type injuries was desired by 71% of doctors surveyed. Better tests (47%), access to specialist clinics (38%) and expert opinion (39%) were also cited as popular improvements that could be made.
Three in five doctors spent less than ten minutes assessing a whiplash injury and only 5% agree strongly with the statement that they have enough time to deal with these patients effectively.
Overall doctors have a very negative view of the increase in patients pursuing financial compensation for whiplash injuries.
Only 4% believe that it is a positive thing that the UK is now much more equipped to compensate people injured in an accident while 45% believe it has a negative effect on society. However, they were broadly unaware of the actual financial cost to the UK with 77% underestimating the £2bn price tag.
Over the last year, AXA has led the way in the insurance industry by being the first insurer to drop referral fees for PI claims and leading a campaign which contributed to the government banning these fees across the industry.
Earlier this year, the company also carried out a study with Thatcham, the leading motor research organisation, into cars on UK's roads and estimated only 34% have head restraints and seats that would be categorised as "good" when it comes to reducing the risk of the driver being the victim of whiplash injuries.
Sarah Vaughan, motor director at AXA insurance said: "We are determined to put a stop to the totally unnecessary levels of compensation payments being made for whiplash in the UK.
"We have already made a first step towards doing this through campaigning for and securing the banning of referral fees. But we believe that compensation is still far too easy to come by.
"Our study clearly shows that the medical profession is under real pressure in this area and crying out for more guidance and support to help them deal with a rapidly growing number of whiplash patients.""
Mr Straw described whiplash as "not so much an injury, more a profitable invention of the human imagination—undiagnosable except by third-rate doctors in the pay of the claims management companies or personal injury lawyers"
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Comments
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about time they did, people wonder why their bills are high for insurance its the compo that does itDon't put your trust into an Experian score - it is not a number any bank will ever use & it is generally a waste of money to purchase it. They are also selling you insurance you dont need.0
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Does not say much for the average GP, not being able to make a diagnosis in most cases.0
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If it really isn't possible to diagnose whiplash injury then it shouldn't be possible to claim compensation for it.
Insurance should be for quantifiable losses - car damaged, house burnt down, ring stolen, etc. If doctors want something done about whiplash cases then they should take action themselves - simply respond to the insurance enquiry "I am unable to state whether this person is suffering from the alleged condition".This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
Well, it sounds like they can diagnose (given they think it is faked) but there is no benefit to them to actually tell the person they think they are faking it or put it into the notes that this is the case.
Same as references, no one wanting to tell the truth for the risk of being sued and so as there is no benefit/ harm to them for giving an honest opinion they dont bother.
So as usual, they know theres a problem, want it corrected but dont want to be the ones doing it0 -
Clifford_Pope wrote: »If it really isn't possible to diagnose whiplash injury then it shouldn't be possible to claim compensation for it....
You haven't experienced it then?
Who says it is "impossible" to diagnose?0 -
You haven't experienced it then?
Who says it is "impossible" to diagnose?
"One of the biggest problems faced by doctors is the accuracy of whiplash diagnosis - only 7% believe it is very easy to accurately diagnose. "
It''s got nothing to do with whether I have ever experienced it. I can comment on what doctors are saying about whiplash in the same way I can comment about what David Cameron is saying about governing the country. I don't have to have ever been prime minister.This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
Clifford_Pope wrote: »"One of the biggest problems faced by doctors is the accuracy of whiplash diagnosis - only 7% believe it is very easy to accurately diagnose. "
It''s got nothing to do with whether I have ever experienced it. I can comment on what doctors are saying about whiplash in the same way I can comment about what David Cameron is saying about governing the country. I don't have to have ever been prime minister.
You read "only 7% (of doctors) believe it (whiplash) is very easy to accurately diagnose".
Which you (quite wrongly) interpreted (and posted) to mean:
And thus we shouldn't be allowed to claim for itit really isn't possible to diagnose whiplash injury
Twisted logic to say the least!!0 -
[QUOTE=Clifford_Pope;56062831
Insurance should be for quantifiable losses - car damaged, house burnt down, ring stolen, etc. [/QUOTE]
What about a broken leg? Should you be able to claim for that, in your opinion? How would you quantify it?0 -
This makes me laugh.
I watched a case in the county court someone vs AXA.
It was stupid how AXA were defending there side.
Damage was to the drivers wing and door, none on the front.
Axa stated that the car drove into the lorry, and that they weren't injured, it was physically not possible.
Anyway the part that I found funny was that AXA was defending a loosing claim and the solicitors had a bill for £19k, the judge reduced that to £9k, but there was a 100% increase so the solicitors pocked £18k.
The innocent driver only claimed £1800.
The other thing is as a insurance company that is paying out, if some evidence is against intervention they would not publish it, but would only show something to strength their argument.
Why is whiplash not detectable?
they have sensor to detect brain activity, sensor to read the heart, surely these can be adjusted to read pain, or the lack of pain.0 -
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